Ministry of Jal Shakti
Pollution in rivers
The report published by Central Pollution Control Board  and the data collected therein, is the guiding document to assess the pollution in various stretches of rivers in the country. CPCB in association with the State Pollution Control Boards / Pollution Control Committees  monitors water quality of rivers and other water bodies in the country through a network of monitoring stations under National Water Quality Monitoring Programme . Based on water quality monitoring results, pollution assessment of rivers has been carried out by CPCB from time to time. State-wise details of polluted river stretches are given at Annexure-I.
It was informed by CPCB that the data published by Centre for Science and Environment  is not available with them as the Board was not involved in publication of the same by CSE.
As per the report of Central Pollution Control Board  of March, 2021, sewage generation from urban areas in the country is estimated at 72368 million litres per day , against which available sewage treatment capacity available is 31841 mld. State/Union Territory  wise details of sewage generation from urban areas and corresponding sewage treatment capacities available are given at Annexure-II.
Cleaning/rejuvenation of rivers is an ongoing activity. It is the primary responsibility of the States/Union Territories  to ensure the cleanliness of water in the rivers within their jurisdiction. States and UTs are to ensure that the Urban Local Bodies and Industrial Units located in their jurisdiction carry out the treatment of sewage and industrial eﬄuents to the prescribed norms before discharging into rivers and other water bodies, coastal waters or land to prevent and control of pollution therein. For conservation of rivers, this Ministry has been supplementing efforts of the States/UTs by providing financial and technical assistance for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of rivers in the country through the Central Sector Scheme of Namami Gange for rivers in Ganga basin and through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan  for other rivers. Setting up of STP is one of the important components of these programmes.
Proposals for pollution abatement works in the towns and cities along polluted river stretches are received from the States/UTs from time to time for consideration under NRCP and Namami Gange and sanctioned based on their prioritization, conformity with guidelines of these schemes/programs, availability of plan funds, etc.
NRCP has so far covered polluted stretches on 35 rivers in 78 towns spread over 16 States in the country with the project sanctioned cost of Rs. 6,142 crore, and inter alia, a sewage treatment capacity of 2,745.70 million liters per day  has been created. Under the Namami Gange programme, 374 projects, including 161 projects for sewage treatment of 5,015.26 mld and a sewer network of 5,134 km, have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs.31,098 crore.
In addition, sewerage infrastructure is created under programs like Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation  and Smart Cities Mission of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.
CPCB, SPCBs and PCCs monitor industries with respect to effluent discharge standards and take action for non-compliance under provisions of Environment  Act, 1986 and Water , Act 1974.
Steps taken by the Government to stop discharge of industrial effluents into rivers inter alia, include issuance of notification of specific discharge standards, revision of the criteria for categorization of industries and issuing directions to all SPCBs / PCCs to adopt the same, issuance of consent to establish/consent to operate by the SPCBs/PCCs, based on Comprehensive Environment Pollution Index  critically polluted areas are identified to take necessary measures through time-targeted Action Plans, regular inspections of Grossly Polluting Industries  by CPCB for compliance verification, installation of Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring System  for assessment of effluent quality and compliance status. In addition, the industries are encouraged to reduce their waste water generation by technological advancement, reuse/recycle of wastewater and maintain Zero Liquid Discharge  where ever possible.
As per the orders of NGT, regular review on implementation of action plans is undertaken in the States/UTs and also at Central level by Secretary, Department of Water Resource, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. of India.
This information was given by the Minister of State, for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.